News Archive

Jointly
organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Antiquities and Monuments
Office, co-organized by the University Museum and Art
Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, and the Lord
Wilson Heritage Trust, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop
on the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater
Cultural Heritage held from 18 November to 20 November
2003 in the Hong Kong Museum of History was concluded
successfully.

The objective of the
Workshop was to promote the ratification of the 2001
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural
Heritage by Asian-Pacific states as well as bring together
the leading authorities on underwater cultural heritage
to share their knowledge. The Convention recognizes the
importance of the underwater cultural heritage as an
integral part of humanity, and is intended to guarantee
its preservation through international cooperation.

The Opening Ceremony
of the Workshop was officiated by Dr. Patrick Ho Chi-ping,
Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr. Zhang Bai, Deputy Director
General of State Administration of Cultural Heritage,
Mr. Richard Engelhardt, Regional Advisor for Culture
in Asia and the Pacific of UNESCO, Mr. Edward Ho Sing-tin,
Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Professor
David Lung Ping-yee, Chairman of the Council of the Lord
Wilson Heritage Trust, Professor Lee Chak-fan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor,
the University of Hong Kong, and Ms. Anissa Sean-yee
Wong, Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services.

Over 100 underwater archeologists,
international law personnel and other experts from overseas,
Mainland China and Hong Kong participated, and over 20 speakers
presented their papers during the Workshop. The expertise
of the speakers were dynamic, including international law,
law of the sea and underwater archaeology, representing
international non-governmental organizations, governments
and universities etc. In the concluding session on 20 November
2003, the participants adopted an Action Plan.

After the conclusion
of the Workshop, a visit was arranged for the participants
to view an exhibition on Trade Ceramics Excavated in
Hong Kong at the University Museum and Art Gallery of
the University of Hong Kong which is jointly presented
by the University Museum and Art Gallery and the Antiquities
and Monuments Office. Through the exhibition, the participants
had a better understanding of the cultural heritage found
in Hong Kong